NASA, in partnership with Axiom Space, is sending fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. This mission will investigate how spaceflight impacts DNA repair, a vital aspect of astronaut health during long-duration space missions.
The Vented Fly Box, designed for secure transport, houses the flies and monitors environmental conditions. Fruit flies are a valuable model organism due to their genetic similarities to humans, short life cycle, and well-understood genetics, allowing for rapid study of multiple generations in space. The primary goal is to understand how spaceflight affects DNA repair mechanisms.
This research, supported by NASA's Ames Research Center and Axiom Space, aims to improve astronaut health and develop countermeasures for the adverse effects of spaceflight, such as radiation exposure and microgravity. The findings will also inform future space exploration, including missions to the Moon and Mars, by providing insights applicable to human spaceflight and enhancing the safety and success of future missions.